Ajyal film festival opens

The fourth Ajyal Youth Film Festival, presented by Doha film Institute (DFI), opened yesterday with the screening of the Kazakh film The Eagle Huntress.
Fatma Al Remaihi, Festival Director and Chief Executive Officer of DFI, welcomed over 550 young people from over 10 countries at the festival’s launch.
The Ajyal Jurors, aged 8 to 21, are the heart of the festival that features 70 thought-provoking films that will inspire the youth and stimulate discussions about real and relevant issues that affect them globally. This year, there are 24 international jurors.
Underlining Doha Film Institute’s commitment to nurturing youth talent and strengthening awareness on meaningful cinema in young people, the Ajyal Jurors will watch and evaluate films in three categories for the Competition.  The Mohaq jury comprises jurors aged 8 to 12 years. There are 200 jurors in this segment, who will watch one programme of short films and four feature length films. Hilal jurors are aged 13 to 17 and form the largest segment this year with 250 members. They will watch five feature films and a programme of shorts. The most mature of Ajyal’s juries is Bader, with jurors aged 18 to 21. There are 100 young people who will select their favourite film from five features and two programmes of short films. Each of the Ajyal juries will award a Best Film prize to their favourite short and feature-length films for a total of six awards.
Today, Ajyal presents its first showcase of ‘Made in Qatar’ films by Qatari directors and people who call Qatar home.  There is a section of internationally acclaimed films as Ajyal marks the commencement of its first Midnight Screenings and SONY Cinema Under the Stars. Ajyal Family Weekend also kicks off today, which is open for all, as well as the first Ajyal Talks, insightful discussions with social media influencers that provide an inspiring interaction with people who have a positive influence on youth. The Made in Qatar 1 will screen at 7pm at Katara Drama Theatre, and includes eight short films including those made with the support of DFI Qatari Film Fund. They include 9956 by Zaki Hussain, Amer: An Arabian Legend by Jassim Al-Rumaihi, Between Science and Religion by Hamida Issa Dana’s Kite by Noor Al-Nasr, Fragile by Khalifa AlMarri, Al-Johara by Nora Al-Subai, Kashta by AJ Al Thani and Shishbarak by Bayan Dahdah.